March 2, 2026
Key Points: U.S.-Israel Campaign Against Iran
- We express our sincere condolences to the families of American service members who have been killed or wounded in the war against Iran.
- The Iranian regime has spent decades threatening U.S. interests and allies, supporting terrorism, destabilizing the region, and brutalizing its own citizens, and these actions must end.
- Iran has a documented history of targeting Americans, beginning with its 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, when 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days. In the decades since, the regime has killed Americans, supported terrorist groups responsible for American deaths, and continued to threaten U.S. citizens and interests around the world.
- A nuclear-armed Iran would be a direct and grave threat to the U.S. and to Israel, which Tehran has repeatedly vowed to destroy. Ending Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and its capacity to sponsor terrorism will make the world safer.
- The President has provided conflicting strategies and timelines for this war; he must articulate coherent and consistent objectives and there must be close consultation with Congress, which holds constitutional war powers.
- Democratic Majority for Israel affirms solidarity with the Iranian people who risk their lives for dignity, opportunity, and accountable governance, and who deserve international support as they seek freedom from repression.
Suggested Questions for Administration Briefings
Below are suggested questions for Administration briefings before Congress this week.
End State & Mission Definition
- What constitutes mission success and what marks completion?
- Is there a defined political end state, or is this an open-ended campaign?
- What is the contingency plan if Iraqi militias shift to sustained attacks on U.S. forces?
- How is the Administration seeking to broaden the coalition targeting Iran, given recent statements—and actions by some—of the E3 and Gulf states?
Nuclear Security
- What is the assessed status of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles?
- Are all known nuclear sites accounted for post-strike?
- Who is verifying site integrity?
- What contingency exists if nuclear material has been relocated or is unaccounted for?
Force Posture and Sustainment
- What additional guarantees are Gulf partners requesting, and what is the Administration committing to?
- How long can elevated deployments be sustained without impacting other theaters?
- What munition resupply requirements are anticipated, particularly for missile defense interceptors?
Analysis
Israeli Operations
On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated and simultaneous strikes targeting Iranian leadership, missile infrastructure, and air defense systems. Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Whereas the June 2025 war was more of a relay, where Israel handed off operations to the U.S., the current war has been planned as a coordinated and synchronized operational effort.
- On Saturday morning, approximately 200 Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft conducted the largest operation in IAF history, striking 500 targets across western and central Iran.
- Initial waves focused on degrading Iran’s integrated air defense systems, radar, and surface-to-air missile batteries, enabling expanded Israeli air superiority.
- Strikes also targeted surface-to-surface missile units, launch infrastructure, and command-and-control nodes, significantly degrading Iran’s offensive capabilities in western Iran.
At least 48 senior Iranian officials have reportedly been eliminated, including:
- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces
- Commander of the IRGC
- Secretary of the Iranian Security Council
- Defense Minister
- Senior intelligence officials
- Two leaders associated with Iran’s nuclear weapons program
A three-person interim leadership council has reportedly been established, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, a senior cleric, and the head of the judiciary. Its cohesion and its ability to command the IRGC and strategic weapons infrastructure remain unclear.
U.S. Operations and Casualties
Last night, President Trump said he expected major combat operations to continue for another four to five weeks. Secretary Hegseth said this morning that the U.S. objectives are to: destroy Iranian missiles and missile production; destroy the Iranian Navy; eliminate Iranian nuclear capabilities; and eliminate Iran’s ability to project power against the U.S. and its allies. He also said the U.S. will not engage in nation-building efforts and encouraged the Iranian people to rise up.
- Four U.S. service members were killed and several more seriously wounded in an Iranian missile attack against a tactical operations center in Kuwait. President Trump said last night that additional casualties are “likely.”
Iranian Retaliation
Iran has launched direct missile attacks against Israeli population centers.
- Eleven Israelis have been killed and 90+ injured in Iranian missile barrages.
- A severe strike in Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem, resulted in nine fatalities, including deaths inside a communal shelter and many homes were destroyed.
- Israel intercepted most of Iran’s incoming missiles, but the Israeli missile defense system is not impenetrable. Iran’s attacks also show that community shelters, while robust, are not impermeable.
The IRGC has launched retaliatory strikes against 27 U.S. installations across the region. The breadth of strikes reflects a deliberate Iranian strategy to impose costs on U.S. partners and draw the region into all-out war. Gulf partners may seek expanded U.S. security assurances, potentially involving force posture adjustments and longer-term commitments.
- Confirmed targets include Al Udeid Air Base (Qatar), U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters (Bahrain), and sites in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- Regional aviation and trade have been disrupted, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Dubai International Airport, compounding economic and logistical consequences.
- Saudi Arabia has publicly expressed solidarity with Gulf states under attack and pledged assistance. The Palestinian Authority condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Gulf Arab states and expressed support for “whatever measures these countries take to preserve their security, stability and sovereignty.”
Risks of Regional Escalation
Escalation risks are now most acute along Iran’s proxy network.
Hezbollah/Lebanon
A sustained northern front would stretch Israeli air defense capacity and materially escalate the conflict.
- Hezbollah launched a limited initial response — six missiles and two drones — from Lebanon into Israel.
- Despite degradation from prior Israeli operations, Hezbollah remains Iran’s most capable and heavily armed proxy.
- Israel has conducted retaliatory strikes in Lebanon, including in Beirut.
Cyprus
Attacks against a British base in Cyprus have expanded the coalition beyond the U.S. and Israel and demonstrated the reach of some Iranian weapons.
- An Iranian drone hit the British Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus on Sunday night, with no casualties and minimal damage, and two additional drones heading toward the RAF base were intercepted this morning.
- On Sunday, an RAF Typhoon fighter jet operating out of Qatar shot down an Iranian drone in a “defensive air patrol,” and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said yesterday that the UK had agreed to a U.S. request to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes.
Iraq
Escalation in Iraq could extend operational timelines, increase costs, and renew domestic Iraqi demands for U.S. withdrawal.
- On Saturday, strikes in Jurf al-Nasr targeted the headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah (KH), an Iraqi militia linked to the IRGC. Two fighters were reportedly killed.
- KH issued several threats over the weekend against the U.S. and Kurdistan Region.
Conclusion
The U.S. and Israel’s campaign has achieved immediate tactical success in degrading Iranian leadership and military infrastructure. The strategic question now is whether that disruption restores deterrence or triggers sustained, multi-front escalation through Iran’s regional proxy network.